Started as a blog about my trip from Pittsburgh to California in a Ford Pickup, hauling a 30' refurbed trailer/camper. Ah, California Dreaming, 'n all that. Found that adventures can be long distance or in your own neighborhood... I look for my own twist on local sites, don't take the known for granted...and always find something new. It's easy, just open your eyes..

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Good morning, friends and pioneers everywhere. Today's excursion took me to North Park in McCandless in search of Pittsburgh's own anti-gravity spot...GRAVITY HILL..located at the intersection of Kummer and McKinney Road near the golf course. Upon finding the exact location, I was relieved that no cars were behind me as I stopped at the STOP SIGN, put the car in neutral... and started to "magically" roll up hill in reverse...and at a pretty good clip!

Whoa, what a strange experience...to lose control for that brief moment, causing you to question the Newton's Law of Gravity! I was completely DISCOMBOBULATED. I drove away, and came back as I had to try it again. Below is the picture of the intersection from my Nissan and I am truly going backwards at that moment. Just to test it out, I tried it again at another stop sign with what I thought to be about the same sloping grade..and nope didn't work. So what's up with Gravity Hill?

There are numerous anti-gravity spots through the country where laws of physics and gravity do not apply. Some people this is a magnetic force..Some people believe thinks there's a warp in Earth's gravity at these locations. A quirky tourist attraction in Santa Cruz, California, touts its own "Mystery Spot." Folks there have fun speculating that extra-terrestrials buried unearthly metals or a spacecraft beneath the site. They claim that people get headaches on the tour from the STRANGE FORCES . . . I don't know about all that, but it's still fun.

But here's the truth! Read on if you really want to know, as the Law of Gravity really is the law.

It's an... optical illusion (shhh!) The illusion is caused by the landscape. The position of trees and slopes of nearby scenery and a curvy horizon line have blended to trick the eye. GPS measurements by physicists show the elevation at the start is higher than at the end. The road actually slopes downhill according to a physicist at Penn State... I guess, sigh! Damn, now I wish I hadn't had to report this!! But it's okay, our imagination can still play...and it's still a weird feeling.

Crooked House, Storybook Forest

Illusion...reminds me of my favorite little spot of strangeness when I was a kid...at Storybook Forest in Ligonier, PA. That crooked house confounded me!! So once again, this exploration led me to another place and another time of fun illusions... and to remember: there was a crooked man, who had a crooked house...he had a crooked cat, who chased a crooked mouse.

I like that much better than the dry old Law of Gravity..it's just a crooked road is all.. Until next time, keep your eyes open.... xoxo PG

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Monday, April 2, 2012 - GPS coordinates find me in Marshall Township, walking and exploring the Thorn Hill Trail with my buddy, Mary. It's a nicely wooded hilly trail that skims Knob Road and a park aptly named Knob Hill Park. I say aptly because true to it's name the park sits atop a nicely manicured hill, a knob if you will, circled by forest. We decided to explore the perimeter of the park and kept coming upon these "things," which I thought had something to do with parking your bicycle as there are chains hanging down. Hmmm, unusual to ride a bike up this grassy hill, but what did I know?

We spot a couple and their two dogs, getting ready to do...what?? Then, colored flying discs are threading their way through the trees like frisbees....and hey! it's a competition. The young girl had quite a delivery, too, I must say. And as it turns out, yours truly, has discovered Disc Golf...and, here we were right smack in the middle of the golf course. Sorry, folks! I had never heard of Disc Golf and the young couple took time to show us the ropes, even offered to let us try our hand at a hole in one...uh, I don't think so! I found it interesting that their 2 dogs did not try chasing the discs (unfortunately I kept calling them frisbees), the cute guy said his dogs are trained not to even try. He gave us a demonstration and it was true, but they will chase a stick or two. Good dogs!

Then I discover there's this whole league, Pittsburgh Flying Disc Society, and there are courses in Schenley Park, Moraine, Deer Park, and others all across the country. You can find them here: http://www.pfds.org There are local leagues, national leagues and pros.. I just never knew!! See what you can discover if you just get out there and look!

Am I the only person who never knew of this sport? Leave me a message, I'd love to know!

So, I explored a new park and discovered a new sport...it was a good Pioneer Girl day. Thanks for reading.. over and out for now...xoxoPG